Logo by Google as seen on Website.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently published a draft that addresses “acute bargaining power imbalances” between Tech Giants, Facebook and Google, and local news media. The new Law of Forces Google to share advertisement revenue with local media businesses. According to Google, this new legislation could threaten search services in the country, and as a reply to this, Google has come up with an open letter that warns Australian users that its YouTube and Search services could be “dramatically worse” if the rules were implemented.
Google also suggests that it may not be able to provide its services free of cost. The letter is made available to Google search users in Australia through a popup that reads, “We need to let you know about new Government regulations that will hurt how Australians use Google Search and YouTube.”
Image as seen on Website.
In the open letter, Google’s Australia MD, Mel Silva, has written, “The way Aussies search every day on Google is at risk from new regulation.” She states, “You’ve always relied on Google Search and YouTube to show you what’s most relevant and helpful to you. We could no longer guarantee that under this law.” Additionally, Mel Silva states that the new regulation “could lead to your data being handed over to big news businesses.”
Google’s Australia MD, Mel Silva, has written, “The way Aussies search every day on Google is at risk from new regulation.” She states, “You’ve always relied on Google Search and YouTube to show you what’s most relevant and helpful to you. We could no longer guarantee that under this law.” Additionally, Mel Silva states that the new regulation “could lead to your data being handed over to big news businesses.” She also says, “This law wouldn’t just impact the way Google and YouTube work with news media businesses — it would impact all of our Australian users, so we wanted to let you know.” Through Ms. Silva, Google states that it is “going to do everything we possibly can to get this proposal changed.”
By this letter, google looks to mobilize its users against this government regulation in the short period that it has, as consultation on the draft code closes on the 28th of August. However, the ACCC accuses the tech giant of publishing misinformation about the draft. The result of this whole episode will only be told with time. Until then, Google is expected to do everything to politize and overturn this regulation that presents a barrier to its continued growth.
